Beet-rack.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

R. F. GILGHRIST.

BEET RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wirtwmwx No. 822,360. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906. R. F. GILGHRIST. BEET RACK.

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ROBERT F. GILCHRIST, OF LEWISVILLE, IDAHO.

BEET-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed June 22,1905. Serial No. 266 494.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. GILCHRIST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lewisville, in the county of Fremont and State of Idaho,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Racks, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in beet-racks, and is designedmore particularly for the handling of sugar-beets, and has for itsobject to produce a device of this character by the use of which asingle man can dump a heavy load of beets with comparatively littleexertion.

A further object is to construct a beetrack which will be simple anddurable in construction, simple in operation, and which can bemanufactured at a comparatively small cost.

To this end it consists, essentially, of a rack pivotally mounted uponthe bed of a wagon and a ratchet mechanism and a system of pulleys fordumping same.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the rack asseated upon the bed of the wagon. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the rack as tilted.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the sameref erence characters.

The bed of the wagon consists of two longitudinal beams 1, connected bycross-bars 2. The ends of the wagon are formed by members 3, securedupon the opposite sides of the longitudinal beams 1 and flaring as theyextend upwardly. The upper ends of the members 3 are connected bytransverse strips 4, fastened upon opposite sides thereof so as to leavea space between them for the reception of pulleys. The lower ends of themembers 3 are joined by reinforcing transverse mem bers 15.

The rack itself comprises a bottom 5, ends 6, and sides 16, the bottombeing reinforced by transverse bars 7 and by longitudinal trussrods 17,which pass under the middle transverse'l bars 7 and are secured to theend transverse bars, so as to reinforce the rack and enable it towithstand the strain imposed upon it when in an elevated position. Thesides 16 are secured to the bottom by means of strap-hinges 18, whichare fastened to the transverse bars 7. The straps on the two end hingesextend upward slightly above the sides and are provided with slots 19,which cooperate with rods 20 to enable the sides to be locked in aclosed position and to limit their pivotal motion. The rods 20 passthrough the slots 19 and have each end curved or hooked, one of the endsbeing loosely connected to the ends 6,while the opposite ends aresecured under hooks 21 to hold the sides closed. lVhen the rods arereleased from under the hooks 21, tle sides fly open until the hooks atthe ends of the rods engage with the slots to prevent further movement.In order to close the sides, it is simply necessary to raise them intoposition and then secure the rods 20 under the hooks 21. The rack ispivotally connected to the wagon by means of links 8, which are pivotedat one end to the cross-bars 2 and at the opposite end to the transversebars 7. The use of these links enables the rack to be dumped on eitherside of the wagon. A drum 9, operated by the ratchet mechanism 10, ismounted upon one end of the wagon and is connected with flexible members11, which extend upward over pulleys 12, mounted at an intermediatepoint between the transverse strips 4, over pulleys 13, similarlymounted at one end of the strips 4, over pulleys 14, fastened to oneside of the rack, and have their ends securely fastened to the uprightmembers 3 near the pulleys 13. It will be' readily seen that one of theflexible members must pass beneath the rack and through a pulley at theopposite end of the wagon before going upward over the pulley 12. Owingto the action of the double pulleys and the leverage obtained by theratchet mechan ism, one man will be able to dump a very heavy load.After the proper side has been opened the drum 9 is caused to turn byworking the ratchet mechanism and the flexible members are wound in, sothat one side of the rack is elevated and the contents thereof dumped.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Thecombination of awagon-body having a side member pivotally attachedthereto and provided with openings in its upper portion, and lockingmembers passing through the openings, one end of the locking membersbeing loosely connected to the adjacent sides of the Wagon-body Whilethe opposite end is adapted to be secured to the Wagon in order to lockthe side in a closed position or to engage With the openings in the sideto limit its pivotal motion.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of aWagon-bed having an upwardly-extending framework at each end, a rackresting upon the bed and comprising a bottom, ends, and sides, saidsides being pivotally connected to the bottom of the rack and beingprovided With openings in their upper portion through which lockingmembers are passed, one end of the locking members being looselyattached to the ends of the rack While the opposite end is adapted to besecured to the rack in order tolock the sides in a closed position or toengage With the opening in the sides in order to limit their pivotalmotion, and means for elevating one side of the rack so as to dump thecontents thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ROBERT F. GILCHRIST. [L. s.] Witnesses:

T. A. HOGGAN, Jr., C. W. PooLE.

